brunette



L. BRUNETTE.

AUTOMATIC RELEASE MECHANISM FOR VESTIBULE CURTAINS;

APPLICATION FILED lUNE30, I919.

1 323,007 Patented Nov. '25, 1919.

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APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30. I9I9.

'1 23,007. Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

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LOUIS BRUNETTE, 0F QUEBEC, QUEBEC, CANADA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF 110 FRANK HABRINGTQN FRENCH,

AUTOMATIC RELEASE MECHANISM FOR VEST'IBULE-CUR'IAINS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Lotus BRUNETTE, a

subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Quebec, Province of Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Itelease Mechanism for Vestibule-0urtains; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to automatic release mechanism for vestibule curtains and the principal object is to produce a simple and reliable mechanism for, automatically holding and disconnecting the free ends of car vestibule curtains, whenever the car to which they are attached are drawn apart, thus preventing injury to the curtains and permitting them to roll up automatically out of the Way.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fastening device, which will normally hold the curtain in its extended position across the diaphragm, but which will yield when unusual strain is imposed upon the curtain and thus release the curtain before it is injured. I

Another object of the invention is to release the curtains simultaneously .with the parting of the air couplings.

A still further object of the invention is to provide for the release of the curtains by electrical means and obviating the use of pneumatic means.

With the above and other objects in view which will hereinafter appear as the descrip tion continues, the invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and formation of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been shown a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details herein exhibited, but

the right is hereby reserved to any changes, alterations or modifications to which recourse may be had that come within the sc pe of th ims Without departing from Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 25,1919.

Application filed. June 30, 1919. $erial N0.307,627.

the spirit of the invention or sacrificing the efficiency of the same.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of the device;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section with the plunger and the locking wheel in elevation; and,

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, illustrating the locking mechanism in plan elevation.

Fig. 4: is a detail viewof a modified form of locking mechanism in a casing with cover removed;

7 Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same with the casing in section;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on line 66 of Fig. 5; r

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the winding drum, switch and release members, illustrating the cord and electrical connections;

Fig. Sis a sectional view of the switch member;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of the winding drum and casing; and,

. Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on line 1010 of Fig. 9. I

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings wherein like and corresponding parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout the several views.

The numeral 1 indicates a portion of the vestibule of a car, which is connected to an; other car in the usual manner by draw bars and hose of theair brake system, not illustrated. Each car is provided with the usual vestibule diaphragm, which are adapted to be covered by a curtain 2/, so that passengers passing from one car to the other, will not come in contact with the vestibule diaphragms. The curtains 2 are mounted upon the usual spring actuated rollers, -which latter are supported upon the vertical beams of the vestibule of the opposite cars and the free ends of the curtains are provided with and draw bar couplings are disconnected. Therefore, it is the purpose of the present invention to provide means for automaticallyreleasing the curtains2, whereby the same may be rolled up when the cars are being uncoupled.

Formed within. the vertical, vestibule bar 1, is a recess 4 and mounted in this recess and carried by a front housing plate 5,, is a housing 6, formed at its lower end with a bracket 7 A pin 8 is mounted in said bracket: 7 and has its lower end journaled in the lower plate 9 of the housing. Pivotally mounted on said pin 8 is a locking wheel 10, and the latter is provided with four hooked projections 11, which areadapted to engage theloops 3 otthe curtain 2, so as t'o hold the latter in its opened position. The rear faces of each of the-hooked projections 11, are flattened as at 12 and the bodyportion of the Wheel 10, between the flattened portions 12 and the hooks 11 is formed with arcuate'recesses or seats 13. 1 The housing 6, is formed with a hollow cylinder 1 1, which extends downwardly from the top housing plate 15 and is spaced from the inner surface of the front housing plate 5. The lower end of the cylinder 14;, is exteriorly screw threaded at 16, for the reception of an interiorly threaded cap 17, which forms the closure for the open end of the cylinder. 7

A plunger is adapted for vertical movement within the cylinder 14 and carriesfithe usual head'lS and rod 19. The head 18 carries the usual gaskets 20 secured thereto by means of a screw 21' and a coil spring-22 en circles the said rod 19 and engages one of the gaskets 20 and the innerface of cap 17 serving to normally tension thesaid plunger head '18toward the upper end of the cylinder. "Thelower end of the plunger rod 19 projectsdownwardly through an opening in the cap 17 and the said plunger is actuated 2 19, so that it will be engaged-by one of the hooked projections 11,0f the locking wheel 10 and be disposed in one of the arcuate' recesses or seats 13, thereby holding the said "wheel ,10' against revolution. I

Should the cars be parted, the air couplings would be uncoupled, which breaks the air supply line and resultant of this operation, the air pressure on the plungerv head 18, would cease and spring 22, would return the plunger to normal position, thereby" raising the plunger rod 19 from engagement with the locking wheel 10.

As the curtains are attached to said wheels. upon the release of the latter by the withdrawal of the plunger rod 19, the said wheels are leads a post 46 of solenoid 47.

allowed to revolve and consequently the looped ends 8 V engaged from the hooked projection 11, to which they may be attached. ,From this it is evident that when the cars have been uncoupled the hose couplings will be severed, thereby releasing the curtain and permitof the curtains become disting the same to be wound upon the roller rests against the coil spring 26, which nor mally holds the guard in the position illustrated; in Fig. 3, and this flexible mounting Y of'the guard permits the loop '8 otthecun tain to readily 'pass'un'der its free end when connecting the'saine to the. hooked projec- T tions" 11, and likewise providing for the ready disengagement of the same, when the cars" are uncoupled.

ln'the modified form of my device, I'disment which will be described as follows:

A drum 27 is mounted in a casing 28, which latter is secured in any appropriate manner to the under trameot one car and said-drum is revolubleon a stem 29, around which is disposed a coil spring- 30, one end of which is attached to a pin 31 on the said drum.

pense' with the air coupling and 7 release mechanism and provide an electrlcal equip- A cable .32 iswound around the;

drum 27 and its free end is attached' to a fiber plug 33. The plug 33'is adapted-for location within the switch casing 34:, se-

cured to the under frame of the adjoining car and said plug 83 is formed with a concaved channel 35. A plate 3610f some good conductive material has one end secured to a plug 87, and a screw terminal 38 is passed through switch'casing- 34 and engages the plug A wire 39 leads to the battery 40. The plate '36 is formed at its medial part with a lug 41, which is normally disposed in the concaved channel '35 of thelplu'g and said plate is likewise formed with a contact lug42, which'is normally out of engagementf with a'similar contact h1g4?) on the plate ah'which'is secured within the switch casing 34. A terminal 35' is" connected to plate 4A- and'a wire 45" attached thereto, Theother post 48- ot the solenoid is connected-to the batteryAOby alead wire'4r9, thus completingthe circuit from the switch to the sole- :noid. The solenoid a7 is mounted in casing and the core 51, ofthe latter carries on its lower end abeveled plate 52.

Am armature plate 53 is hingedly mounted ii -a 'lug5 l -1n the casing 50 and is dis posed below the solenoid plate 52.

A wheel 55 is pivotally mounted on pin 56 in said casing 50 and the latter is provided with four hooked projections 57, adapted to engage the loops 58 of the curtain, so as to hold the same in its opened position.

The plate 53 on its lower surface is provided with a trip lug 59, adapted for normal engagement with one of the hooked projections 57 or the wheel 55, to hold the same against revolution.

In operation, should the coupling connec tion between the cars be severed, the plug 33, would be withdrawn from the switch casing 84 and the end of the plug would engage the lug 41, on plate 36, thus elevating the end of said plate and causing the lug 42 thereon to contact lug 4&3 on plate 4%, thus closing the circuit to the solenoid $7. The solenoid being thus magnetized, energizes plate 53 and draws the same into contact with the plate 52, elevating the lug 59 from engagement with the wheel 55, so that the latter is released and allowed to revolve to disengage the curtain loop 58 from one of the hooks 57 When the connection is made again, the plug 83 is merely inserted within the switch casing 3st and the plate 53 is normally held in locking position with the wheel 55 by a spring 60.

Whereas I have shown means for automatically releasing the curtains and which means have been pneumatically operated, it is of course to be understood that an electrical or other mechanical equipment may be used for operating the same that come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a tension operated curtain, of a housing, a cylinder formed integral With said housing, a plunger slidable in said cylinder, an air supply pipe connected to said cylinder, a cap adjustable on said cylinder, a spring arranged in said cylinder for normally tensioning said plunger toward the upper end thereof, a locking wheel pivotally mounted in said housing and comprising a plurality of hooked projections, the said curtain adapted for connection to one of said hooked projections, and the said plunger adapted to be actuated by air pressure to move the same downwardly into engagement with another of said hooked projections for holding said locking wheel against revolution.

2. The combination with a tension operated curtain, of a housing, a cylinder formed integral with said housing, a plunger slidable in said cylinder, an air supply pipe connected to said cylinder, a cap adjustable on said cylinder, a spring arranged in said cylinder for normally tensioning said plunger toward the upper end thereof, a locking wheel pivotally mounted in said housing and comprising a plurality of hooked projections, the said curtain adapted for connection to one of said hooked projections, the said plunger adapted to be actuated by air pressure to move the same downwardly into engagement with another of said hooked projections for holding said locking wheel against revolution, and a guard carried by said housing inclosing a portion of said locking wheel.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LOUIS BRUNETTE.

WVitnesses MARTIN GODIN, ELZIRE ROCHELLE. 

